How I Accidentally Became a Coach
How I accidentally became a coach.
I always believed that all non-sport coaches were fake and never entertained the thought of being a client, let alone becoming a coach myself.
I didn't need anyone to tell me what to do, judge me for my decisions or put any pressure on me as I was under enough pressure at the time.
Coaching isn't that, but I didn't know it at the time. I just wasn't open to being coached.
Life has a funny way of changing your perspective.
I wanted to help my direct reports with their professional and personal development and discovered that my company had a contract with an organisation that facilitated leadership assessments.
After I had arranged and signed the contract it transpired that one of my team had his own coach and declined the offer. As there was now a free space I took it so it wouldn't go to waste.
Being coached by Neville changed everything. My perspective on coaching, the value it brought me, how by extension it helped my family, friends and colleagues.
After several years of being a client I was out at a local coffee shop with a good friend of mine, Neil. After a two-hour conversation, as we were leaving, he turned to look at me and said "whatever you just did, you need to keep doing it".
I was confused. I thought we were just talking. But it would appear that my coach had rubbed off on me. When I met with Neville later I asked him about how he started coaching, the pros and cons of certification, training facilities. He pointed me to the same course at NeuroLeadership that he had taken many years prior.
After the second session I was ready to quit and forfeit my investment in the training programme.
We were paired up with other trainee coaches and it was confronting. I had to bring the real me to the conversation, not fake it, and it was an alien feeling.
I let go of my inhibitions and gave myself over to the process.
Thank goodness I did. Not only do I now help others, but they help me in return. I have met, and continue to meet, so many diverse people all over the world. That connection with new people has become one of my purposes. This year I have committed to meeting at least one new person every month.
I'm Andy, I may suck at many things but that doesn't stop me from trying.
Read more: Andy the Muppit